FLORENCE, SC – Midfielder Mario Buelga scored on a 26-yard blast in the 78th minute to give Francis Marion a 1-1 draw with visiting fifth-ranked Limestone University, Saturday night (Oct. 12) in non-conference men's soccer action.
 
Francis Marion moves to 5-2-5 on the season and recorded its third tie with a nationally ranked opponent in 2024.  Limestone (8-0-2) had not allowed a goal in eight matches since a season-opening 2-2 tie with Young Harris College.
 
Buelga's score came at 77:47 after a flurry in the box.  The ball came out and freshman midfielder Santiago Bustamante Garcia laid the ball off to Buelga, who's attempt found the upper netting.
 
The opening 45 minutes were scoreless, despite the Patriots holding a 10-2 advantage in shots.  Forward Edorta Cabieces fought for the ball in the box and his 12-yard shot was pushed away by Saints' goalkeeper Nikolaj Bertelsen in the sixth minute.
 
At 25:51, Cabieces was high on a 19-yard attempt.  Junior forward Juan Herrera's header off a service from Buelga at 27:44 went narrowly outside the left post.
 
In the final five minutes of the half, Herrera's shot from the top of the penalty area was denied by Bertelsen but resulted in a corner kick.  That corner found the head of defender Angel Cobo, but went over the crossbar.
 
In the 57th minute, FMU went on a transition break where Buelga crossed the ball to Cabieces in the penalty area, but his miss-hit attempt was high and wide of the Limestone goal.
 
That sequence preceded the Saints taking a 1-0 lead at 57:02 when Stefan Robe fed a through ball to Moritz Guettel for a successful 15-yard shot from the right side.
 
FMU senior goalkeeper Ian Milla, making just his second start of the season, recorded four saves, while Bertelsen finished with two stops.
 
FMU managed only one more shot after the equalizer and it was not on frame.  Milla stopped a potential match-winning shot in the 87th minute.
 
Francis Marion led 13-7 in shots and held a commanding 8-2 edge in corner kicks.